Police Shooting in our Hometown- update

As much as I was hoping to never have to write this post, the time has come that I need to.  In the post I wrote a couple of weeks ago (Police Shooting- A Sad, Scary Day in our Hometown), I told you about how one of the 10 police officers in our little town was gunned down while responding to a domestic disturbance call.  As more information emerged, we found out that Officer Schneider was shot while helping the 17 year old former girlfriend of the enraged gunman escape the house where her ex-boyfriend was holding her.  As the girl ran from the house, with Officer Schneider shielding her while running behind her, he took a bullet to the back of the head/neck.  He was rushed to Mayo in Rochester and was in critical condition for 2 weeks.  The gunman was later found dead from a self-inflicted gun shot wound inside the house.

Sadly, Officer Shawn Schneider passed away on Friday, December 30th around 5:30 in the evening.  The community has been mourning the loss of this awesome citizen, civil servant, and hero ever since.  The part that gets to me the most is that he leaves behind a wife and 3 young children.  I can't imagine the pain and worry that the family is facing but I'm so happy and proud of how the community, as well as many other nearby (and faraway) communities have stepped up to help and support his family.  Many houses in town still have their porch lights on to show support.  There have been countless benefits and fundraisers.  Many are still going on even after Officer Schneider passed away.

The funeral is set for Saturday and we're sure that the turnout will be tremendous.

 If you would like to send a donation to help support the family, a fund has been set up at one of our local banks:

Shawn Schneider Family Support Fund
Alliance Bank
105 E. Lyon Ave., PO Box 455
Lake City, MN 55041

We hoped that nothing like this would ever happen here in our safe, peaceful community and we were all taken by surprise when it did... surprise is really an understatement.  Now, all we can do is hope and pray that nothing like this ever happens again.  Please keep Officer Schneider's family and friends in your thoughts and prayers, as well as the family of the gunman and the 17 year old girl involved in the altercation.

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